Dogs eat almost anything they can reach with their mouth, whether food or soap! If your dog ate soap, it is normal to be worried about them. However, you don't need to panic as they are likely to be okay depending on the type of soap and amount they ate.
Typically, different soaps are found in our homes. These soaps come in various forms, including solid bars, powders, and liquids. Even after taking precautions to prevent our dogs from eating soaps, they may still find a way to reach them for different reasons. For instance, a puppy going through teething may chew solid bar soap to soothe their discomfort, while a hungry dog may lick liquid soap because it smells nice.
Different soaps contain different ingredients, some of which are toxic when ingested. For instance, solid bar soap contains sodium hydroxide, while liquid soap contains potassium hydroxide. These hydroxides are strong alkalis that can cause chemical burns to the mouth, oesophagus, and stomach. Since each soap has different active ingredients, the treatment a dog needs after eating soap varies depending on the ingredients.
If eaten in small quantity, there is a likelihood that your dog won't fall sick after eating soap. However, regardless of how much your dog ate or if they seem fine afterwards, you should immediately take them to the vet for medical attention.